Local MP meets travel watchdog

February 7, 2013 10:46 AM

Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington met with the representatives of London TravelWatch, an independent consumer watchdog for London's travelling public, to discuss the lack of night service provision in Carshalton and Wallington, and the possible extension of 154 bus hours.

Commenting on the meeting, with Janet Cooke and Tim Bellenger, Tom Brake said:

"The removal of the N213 left us without a night bus in Carshalton and Wallington. Yet, we need a night service to help those who commute outside standard working hours, as well as to ensure the safety of anyone travelling home at night."

"During the meeting with London TravelWatch I discussed a number of travel issues, but the main focus was the possibility of extending the operating times of the 154 route. This could at least partly compensate for the loss on N213."

"With their help, I will continue to press TfL for a fair deal for Carshalton and Wallington travellers."

Transport for London (TfL) axed the N213 route in 2009, arguing that it was underused. Despite over 5,000 signatures on the petition calling for reinstatement of a night bus between Sutton and Croydon, TfL has repeatedly refused to reintroduce it, maintaining that a night bus operating on this route would be "not worthwhile".

Reducing the time between the last and first bus on the 154 route would provide Carshalton and Wallington residents with at least a partial night service. As the current gap is less than 4 hours, the additional service every 30 minutes would only require a few additional journeys. Additionally, timetabling the route to connect the N155 at Morden and N44 at Rosehill, would provide better connection for those travelling from at night to Carshalton and Wallington from Central London.